A flare up in a saute pan started a fire that damaged the Mocha Java Cafe and forced the evacuation of several businesses at the Ward Centre Monday afternoon, fire officials said.

The fire was reported at 12:36 p.m. and the blaze was brought under control by 1 p.m. Firefighters extinguished the fire at 1:30 p.m., said Capt. Terry Seelig, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman.
Seelig said the first-arriving companies reported moderate smoke in the restaurant’s kitchen and flames above the ventilation hood. Light smoke also had spread through the mall, he said.
The cafe’s employees activated the kitchen’s fire protection system, which controlled the fire until HFD arrived, Seelig said. Water from the fire protection system flowed into the mall’s walkways, but did no cause damage to adjacent property.
The fire did an estimated $5,000 in damage to the Mocha Java Cafe kitchen. There were no reports of injuries.